Royal Oak team advances in XPRIZE Water Scarcity testing

By AI, Created 10:30 AM UTC, May 20, 2026, /AGP/ – Archimedes-Desal, a Royal Oak-based team, will take part in extended team testing for Track A of the $119 million XPRIZE Water Scarcity competition. The group says its gravity-driven desalination system has earned expert recognition, a grant and a U.S. patent as it seeks to scale a lower-energy approach to clean water.

Why it matters: - Water insecurity affects more than 2 billion people worldwide. - The XPRIZE Water Scarcity competition is seeking scalable technologies that can expand access to safe water. - Archimedes-Desal is a Michigan-based team in a field dominated by large corporations and research institutions. - The team’s gravity-driven reverse osmosis concept aims to reduce energy demand in desalination.

What happened: - Archimedes-Desal said it will participate in Extended Team Testing for Track A of the XPRIZE Water Scarcity competition. - The Royal Oak team is the only Michigan-based qualified team in the $119 million competition. - The team said the prototype is being assembled in Royal Oak for XPRIZE testing. - Founder Tom Wither said the extension gives the team more time to continue development.

The details: - The system uses gravity as the primary driver for reverse osmosis desalination. - The team said the concept has been recognized by international desalination experts. - Archimedes-Desal said it received an XPRIZE Water Scarcity grant. - The team said it received a newly issued U.S. patent for the gravity-driven desalination system. - The company said patents are pending for zero-emissions artificial lift and energy generation and storage systems. - The team said New York Law School provided pro bono patent filings. - The team said two internationally known experts with more than 60 years of desalination and water experience are serving as advisors. - The company also said a full-scale demo is under assembly in Royal Oak, Michigan. - XPRIZE Water Scarcity Track A includes prizes of $40 million for first place, $20 million for second, $10 million for third and $5 million for a Moonshot prize. - Archimedes-Desal launched a GoFundMe campaign to bridge a funding gap. - Supporters are being offered an invitation to a post-XPRIZE award ceremony if the team wins one of the listed prizes. - The full fundraising page is available here. - Tom Wither is the founder of Archimedes-Desal. - The media contact listed is Tom Wither at tom@aawfunding.com and 1-248-541-9288.

Between the lines: - The extension suggests the competition is giving finalists more runway to refine prototypes before testing concludes. - Archimedes-Desal is trying to position gravity-driven desalination as a lower-energy alternative to conventional systems. - The fundraising push signals that the team still needs outside capital despite its selection and patent milestones. - Support from water-industry figures and a patent clinic may help the team build credibility as it exits stealth mode.

What’s next: - Archimedes-Desal expects to exit stealth mode soon. - The team will continue assembling its full-scale demo in Royal Oak. - Extended Team Testing will determine how the concept performs under XPRIZE scrutiny. - The team is seeking donations to support ongoing development and competition costs.

The bottom line: - Archimedes-Desal is betting a Michigan-built, gravity-driven desalination system can compete on a global stage by cutting energy use and expanding access to clean water.